Breamlea Operations Group 
Progress Report      14 April 1995

Recent Developments: 
Mark McAllister re-built the brake power supply during March and it was 
reinstalled on Thursday 6th April. The microprocessor was turned on and the 
brake caliper adjusted. However the brake was left locked. Thus the W/G was 
able to track the wind, test the brake power supply under load and monitor 
the mains voltages, but not able to generate. The following day, Mr Vivian 
Ohis, an electrical engineer from CitiPower attended and performed a number 
of voltage, current and power tests as the windgenerator was powered-up. It 
ran well for about 5 minutes, and then the noise and power dips became 
apparent. I had arranged for PowerCor's breakdown crew to visit and they heard 
a fault on their power pole as soon as they got out of their truck. (Why 
didn't we hear it???). The fault was quickly traced to the white phase LV 
fusible link on the lower wooden cross-arm on the pole. It was replaced. The 
red & white links were cleaned and reset. The W/G was re-started and ran 
perfectly at 40 to 70 kW. It was left running. PowerCor Distribution Manager, 
Craig Hobbs was informed of developments and the fact that ATA has lost $2000 
in 2 months due to their faulty equipment.

CitiPOWER's Roger Lamb was also informed, and asked us to start invoicing 
CitiPOWER monthly, and they will START PAYING FOR OUR ELECTRICITY, while we 
get our verbal contract (8cents/kWh) negotiated formally and put on paper.
A letter was sent to the Geelong Advertiser, highlighting the help received 
and informing re the open day on Easter Sunday. On Saturday 8th April I 
borrowed a grease gun from Gary Wileman and greased the generator bearings 
(18 pumps front, 12 pumps rear). Average power output in the 2 days to 6pm 
Sunday was about 19 kW.
Approaches have been made to the Victorian Power Exchange and the Office of 
the Regulator-General to clarify whether we need to apply for a licence or 
apply for a licence exemption. We should have an answer next week. Most 
likely an exemption will be granted as we are under 1 MW installed capacity, 
and so small we are not even defined as an "Embedded Unit" under the VPX 
System Code. By the end of the financial year PowerCor is supposed to notify 
the Regulator-General of all Embedded Units connected to its grid, so we will 
need to formalise and document our relationship with PowerCor soon. 

Future Options: 
I am keen to "fine tune" the W/G to squeeze the maximum possible electric 
power out of it. Three easy and safe methods seem readily achievable without 
any significant risk to the integrity of the machine or its expected lifespan:
        1. 220 or even 150 grade oil in the main gearbox. It currently 
contains 320 grade and becomes almost too hot to touch during prolonged high 
speed operation. Given the size of the gearbox, it might be dissipating up to 
1kW or more of heat. Thinner oil will allow more power to the gen. and more 
electricity to be produced. If the generator operates an average of 12 
hours/day this will mean another 6 kwH/day, or another $180/year worth of 
electricity. 
        2. Remove the fan from the rear of the generator. The gen. rotates at 
a fixed 1000 rpm whether it is producing 5 kW or 60 kW. It only gets hot 
when it is generating at high power. No cooling fan is needed below 15-20 kW. 
If the gen is enclosed in a cowling ducted to the rear grille, either natural 
wind flow or a thermostatically activated electric fan will keep the gen 
cool. More mechanical energy will be available for electric conversion. 

        3. A additional brake caliper can be fitted to the brake disc. It 
will need some control circuitry and sensors but will be applied when high 
speed generating averages 15 kW or less for 5 minutes (or when there are no 
peaks greater than 25 kW for 5 minutes). As it slows the blades, the 
generator will act like a motor for a few seconds, then disconnect. 
The high speed shaft will then rapidly decelerate to 750 rpm, which will be 
sensed by another inductive sensor on the gen shaft. The brake will then 
release as the low speed contactors switch in. This brake may operate 
frequently in certain wind conditions and it will need a brake-wear sensor 
which disables it at a predetermined state of wear. 

Late Note:
On Saturday 8th April I borrowed a grease gun from the farm neighbour and 
greased the gen. bearings (18 pumps front, 12 pumps rear). Average power 
output in the 2 days to 6pm Sunday was about 19 kW. Approaches have been made 
to the Victorian Power Exchange and the Office of the Regulator-General to 
clarify whether we need to apply for a licence or apply for a licence exemption. We 
should have an answer next week. Most likely an exemption will be granted as 
we are under 1 MW installed capacity, and so small we are not even defined as 
an "Embedded Unit" under the VPX System Code. By the end of the financial 
year PowerCor is supposed to notify the Regulator-General of all Embedded 
Units connected to its grid, so we will need to formalise and document our 
relationship with PowerCor soon. 
                                                M. Gunter
